One of the biggest concerns for HR professionals this year has been boosting employee engagement levels. And there’s good reason for this goal; engagement levels are declining across the globe, which is going to create problems for everyone. A recent study from Aon Hewitt revealed employee engagement levels have dipped for the first time since 2012. The report, which surveyed more than 5 million employees at 1,000 global organizations, found that less than a quarter of employees identify themselves as highly engaged, with 39 percent saying they are moderately engaged. Overall, engagement rates globally dropped from 65 percent in 2015 to 63 percent in 2016. Ken Oehler, global culture and engagement practice leader at Aon Hewitt, says the drop is likely caused by rapid advances in technology and automation that are threatening job security across the globe. He also adds that the political climate may be a factor, saying, “The rise in populist movements like those in the U.S., the U.K., and other regions is creating angst within organizations as they anticipate the potential for a decrease in free labor flow.”